Combination folding stand and table



Oct. ll, 1955 w. c. BAXTER COMBINATION FOLDING STAND AND TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 2O 1951 WILL/Aff TTRN'EY Oct. 11, 1955 w, C, BAXTER 2,720,437

COMBINATION FOLDING STAND AND TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1951 WILL/Aff Z AXTEE IN VEN TOR.

A T T ORNZY United sate. pas.. o

COMBINATION FOLDING STAND AND TABLE William C. Baxter, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Trimble,

Thisinvention relates to a combination folding stand and table, with particular reference to the type of stand that includes parallel leg frames movable toward and from each other when folding or extending, and has for its purpose to provide a table pivotally mounted in relation to one of the leg frames and adapted to fold into parallel relationship with the leg frames and against the other leg frame which is interposed, when the stand is folded, between the table and the rst mentioned leg frame to which the table is pivoted, thus acting to hold the stand in folded relationship.

A further purpose of the invention is to aiford a table pivotally mounted on one of the leg frames of a stand such as described and supported in such a manner that it can be folded downwardly and will clear the other leg frame and assume a position parallel to said other leg frame when the stand is folded, the last mentioned leg frame being then in close proximity to the leg frame on which the table is mounted and between said leg frame and the table.

Still another object of the invention is to afford a structure including a folding stand with relatively movable parallel leg frames and a table pivotally mounted on one of the leg frames in such fashion that its pivotal point is located midway between the leg frames when the stand is folded and above the tops of the leg frames, so that when the latter `are folded into `proximate relationship, the table swings downwardly on one leg frame around the other leg frame, clearing thelatter and occupying `a vertical position inparallel` relationship tothe leg frames and-acting to hold the latteragainst unfolding. i i t.

To these and other ends,\the invention consists `in the construction `that will appear clearlyfromthe following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, thenovel features being pointed out in the claim following the specification. l p In the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a view in front elevation showing one-embodiment of the invention as incorporated in an infants folding bath `stand and dressing table, the leg frames `being shown in extended or unfolded position and the dressing table in upright position at the fearfof the `leg frame on which it is mounted; t ,p t

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevationof the same; u-x

` Fig. 3 is a`view in side elevation showing the leg frames folded and the table folded downwardly in parallel relation to and in front of one leg frame, the latter being located between the table and the leg frame to which the table is pivoted, and held folded by the table;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side elevation, partially broken away, showing the pivotal support for the table, with the latter appearing in horizontal or operative position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the table elevated to its upright or inoperative position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the dressing table in relation to the two leg frames when the 2,720,437 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 latter are folded and the dressing table is moved into parallel relation therewith forwardly of the front leg frame, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on line 7-7 of Fig. `4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, the invention is illustrated as incorporated in an infants folding bath stand and dressing table including a front leg frame consisting of the legs 1 and top rail 2, and a rear leg frame consisting of the legs 3 and top rail 4, while 5 is a flexible or fabric tub suspended between the top rails of the leg frames and adapted to be folded between the leg frames.

The leg frames arecontrolled to effect their movement in parallelism by inner and outer connecting frames each of which consists of a top rail 6 having trunnions at its ends which engage and are vertically slidable in guideways in the legs of the adjacent leg frame. Each cross-rail 7 is pivotally connected at 8 to the adjacent leg of the opposite leg frame, the cross-rails 7 at the ends of the connecting frames being pivotally connected centrally at 9, so that as the front top rail 6 is elevated in the guideways of the adjacent legs, the rear top rail of the other connecting frame is likewise elevated by reason of the pivotal connections between the cross-rails and the leg frames are thus moved toward each other for folding to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6. 11 designates a tray pivotally connected by links 12 to the adjacent crossrails 7, as shown in Fig. 2, and adapted to rest on the top rails of the connecting frame when in horizontal position, or to be folded down on to the cross-rails 7 of the inner connecting frame when the latter is to be folded, and thus assume the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The folding tray and supporting mechanism therefor forms no part of the present invention and constitutes the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 257,373, led November 30, 1951, now Patent No. 2,644,590, issued July 7, 1953. l

13 designates a` dressing tablethat is pivotally sup` ported on the folding stand-when the latter is employed as an infants combination bath tub `and dressing table and is movable from a` horizontal operative position, as illustrated in Fig. `4, to anupright inoperative position at the rear of the stand,` as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and S, and it isdesirable to mount the dressingtable in such manner that when the leg frames are folded into proximate parallel relationship as illustrated in Fig. 6, the dressing table can be swung downwardly to a position parallel to and forwardlyof the front leg frame, which is thus main-` tained `between the rear leg frame and dressing table, `and in effecting such movement of the dressing table, `the latter must swing` and clear the top of the `front leg frame in its arcuate path of' movement. 1 t

This is accomplished by mounting the dressing table in such fashion that'when in its operative` horizontal position, the bottom of the dressing table is located above the tops of the legs a greater distance than the thickness of the legs of the front leg frame, and above the pivotal point a `distance somewhat greaterthan twice the thickness of the legs of the front leg frame. The pivotal point of the table is arranged midway between the front and rear leg frames when the stand is folded, as in Fig. 6, the table then occupying a vertical position parallel to and spaced forwardly of the front leg frame which it thus holds in position against the rear leg frame. The table is freely movable between its lowered vertical position shown in Fig. 6 and its upright position shown in Fig. 5 without .striking or interfering with the front leg frame, which is movable to its extended or unfolded position as in Figs. l and 2 when the dressing table is in its: upright position.

To accomplish this purpose, the legs of the rear leg frameare provided near their upper ends' with metal supporting plates or brackets 14 suitably attached thereto and provided with forwardly extending portions 15 that project forwardly of the rear leg frame and constitute pivotalvsupports forithehinge plates 16 that areiattached to the sides `1'7 ofthedressing table` The-hinge plates 16 include downwardly projecting ears or portions `18 which are pivoted at 19won ``thexsupporting brackets, the downwardly projecting ears 18 extending sufficiently; below the dressing table softhatf the rlatter is above the tops of the leg frames a distance'somewhatv greater than the thickness of the legsv of the frontleg frameand above the pivotal` points 19"a,distance somewhat more than twice the thickness of the legs of the leg frame..

With this construction,.when`the dressing table is in its horizontal operativeposition as shown in dotted lines in Fig.. Zand infullzljnes in Fig. 4, the dressing table is suficiently far above `the tops of the leg frames so that it swings downwardlyto the -Fig.. 6 position without strikvingvor interferingwith thefzlegs of the front leg frame when the latter is folded into proximate relationship .with

. the rear leg frame. 21 designates suitable blocks or stops secured to the underside of the table at its forward portion and engageable with the top rail of the front leg frame, acting to` hold the forwardpart of the table in its elevatedposition above theleg frames, as determined by the height of the depending .ears 18 which pivotally support the dressing table. The forwardly extending portions 15 of the supporting brackets 14 Vare so arranged that the pivotal points `19 areapproximately midway between the leg frames when the latter are in folded position, as in Fig. 6, the .pivotal points .19 being a sufficient distance under the tops of the leg frames so that the bottom of the dressing tableclearsthe top rail of the front leg frame when swinging in an arcuate path about the same, and when in its ylowered position as in-Fig. 6, the table is effective in holding the front leg frame in its folded position between therear leg frame and table, as shown in Fig. 3. At the same time, the exible tub is retained withinthe leg frames and the parts are positioned for convenient `transportingor packing. y

22 designates a wire frame constituting a rack having depending end portions 23 that are pivoted at 24 to the brackets 14 and arranged to engagepivot pins 19 supportingthe dressingxtable, and acting thus tot limit movement` of the rack which extends across and limits upward movement of Vthe table 13, as shown in Fig. 2. When the stand` and table are folded; the rack is foldable downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. 25 designates a spring connected at one end to the plate 16 mounted on 'the table and at its lower end.to leg A3 of the rear leg frame and acting normally to hold `the dressing table in upright position as shown in Fig. 2, the table being movable to a horizontal position or lower foldingposition against the tension of spring 25 and the weightof the table is suicient to overcome the action of spring 2S when in its horizontal or folded positions.

In order to preventinadvertent folding of the leg frames or movement toward each other when the tub is filled with water, there are provided brace rods 26, see Fig. 2, which are pivoted at one end to the brackets 14 and provided at their forward ends with bent ends or hook portions arranged to engage openings or locking recesses formed in clips 27, the rods 26 being engageable .with the 4' clips 27 whenthe stand is extended or unfolded as in Fig. 2 and Vdisengageable therefrom and swingable to a vertical position as in Fig. 2 when the stand is to be folded. 28 designates casters or wheels supported at the bottoms of the legs at one end of the respective leg frames to permit readily moving the stand over a floor when lifting the opposite end thereof slightly away from the floor, and when in operating position, the legs at the opposite ends of the leg frames rest directly upon the floor or supporting surface and prevent displacement of the stand.

While the invention has been described in relation to an infants folding bath stand and dressing table, it is equally applicable to any similarly folding stand such as may be employed for serving food and beverages or other l5r purposes wherever it is desirable to have a table or tray supportable on the stand and foldable downwardly around a front leg frame of parallel leg frames, and acting to hold the leg frames in folded relationship, and while the invention has been described with reference to the detailed construction herein shown, it is not confined to any specific embodiment and this application is intended to cover such modifications or departures as may come within the purposes of the improvement or the `scope of the following claim.

I claim:

j In a folding stand and table, the combination with symmetrical front and rear leg frames of inverted U- shaped form movable toward and from each other in parallelism with their tops and bottoms in the same horizontal planes respectively and connecting means operatively associated With the leg frames including top rails extending between opposite legs and having trunnions at their ends slidable vertically in guideways in the adjacent legs frompoints intermediate the tops and bottoms of the legs to points near the tops of the legs, and cross-rails pivotally connected to each other having their upper ends pivotallyconnected to said top rails and their lower ends pivotally connected to the legs at points between said top rails and the bottoms of the legs, of a table, the leg frames being in spaced relation to each other when the stand is folded, metal supporting brackets attached to the legs of the rear leg frame near the tops thereof and having extensions projecting forwardly of the rear leg frame to a point intermediate the front and rear leg frames when the stand is folded, metal hinge plates secured to the ends of the table, and ears depending from said hinge plates and pivotally mounted on said bracket extensions, the pivotal points of said ears being below the table a distance slightly more than twice the width of the legs of the front leg frame and located midway between the front and rear leg frames when the stand is folded.

References Cited'in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 827,913 Jensen Aug. 7, 1906 900,552 Kade Oct. 6, 1908 1,185,563 Wells May 30, 1916 1,528,156 Lewis Mar. 3, 1925 1,588,759 Lewis June 15, 1926 2,053,789 Hardy Sept. 8, 1936 2,140,685 Baxter Dec. 20, 1938 2,217,658 De Puy Oct. 15, 1940 2,644,590 Baxter July 7, 1953 

